Part 149 (1/2)

under the tree. But perhaps there was something she could give.

”Why don't you ask how he is, Bev?” Emma said gently. ”It would be

easier for both of us.”

Bev s.h.i.+fted her gaze to meet Emma's eyes. Those beautiful dark blue

eyes so like her father's. ”How is he?”

”I wish I knew. His music's going better than ever. The last concert

tour ... well, you probably know about all of that.”

”Yes.”

”He's scoring a film and talking about doing a conceptual alb.u.m. Then

the videos. You could almost believe music videos were made with Dad in

mind. Everything comes across, just as it does in concert.”

She paused, then blundered on. ”He's drinking too much.”

”I've heard that, too,” Bev said quietly. ”P.M.”s worried about him.

But they-for the last few years their relations.h.i.+p's been strained.”

”I want to talk him into a clinic.” Emma gave a quick, restless shrug.

”But he won't listen. He can see it in Stevie-but then it's so hard to

miss there. It's difficult to reason with him about it because it

hasn't affected his work, his creativity, or even his health to this

point. But-”

”You're worried.”

”Yes. Yes, I am.”

Bev's smile was softer, easier, a ghost of the one Emma remembered. ”Is

that why you came?”

”Partly, I suppose. There seem to be a lot of parts to why I came.”

”Emma, I swear to you, if I thought I could help, if I thought there was

anything I could do, anything at all, I would.”